A computer-controlled experimental facility for krypton and xenon adsorption coefficient measurements on activated carbons

An automated experimental test facility, intended specifically for qualification of the krypton and xenon adsorption properties of activated carbon samples, was designed and constructed. The experimental apparatus was designed to allow an on-line control of the main physical parameters influencing greatly the adsorption property of activated carbon. The measurement of the adsorption coefficient, based upon the elution curve method, can be performed with a precision better than 5% at gas pressure values ranging from atmospheric pressure up to 9 bar and bed temperature from 0 up to 80 °C. The carrier gas flow rate can be varied from 40 up to 4000 N cm3 min−1 allowing measurement of dynamic adsorption coefficient with face velocities from 0.3 up to 923 cm min−1 depending on the gas pressure and the test cell being used. The moisture content of the activated carbon can be precisely controlled during measurement, through the relative humidity of the carrier gas.